Taste: Very smooth. There's a very slight burn from the bourbon barrels, but not overpowering. It's just enough mellow the beer and give that bourbon taste. Tastes of raisins and milk chocolate.

Mouth: A medium bodied beer. I say medium because I feel it should be heavier, but it's actually quite light.

Overall: This beer is very smooth. I imagine aging in bourbon barrels really mellows this beer out. I originally thought this was a 2011 brew, but after realizing it's 2009 the smoothness of the beer makes more sense. I imagine the alcohol and bourbon burn is more apparent for a young brew so a year or two in the cellar would do this beer a great deal of good.

More User Reviews:

Appearance - This is a dirty brown in color with light orange highlights and a head that can't possibly keep up with the booze factor of this ale.

Smell - There's a huge cask nose here that is extremely woody. This is more like a fine aged bourbon than a beer. The whisky-like booze is prominent.

Taste - This really is like sipping bourbon. The rich American oak permeates the entire flavor profile and there is a musty aspect of this booze that reflects long cellaring. The malt is straight Kentucky bourbon and there's a rich cherry condition that begs for attention.

Mouthfeel - This is medium-bodied with a big alcohol presence that is somehow inviting.

Drinkability - I felt like a king sipping this ale. It is so well done and so incredible that you forget how hard it is.

This was a really nice beer. I'm just not sure it was worth $25 for the 500ml bottle.In a snifter the beer was a ruby red color with just a rim of head.Nice aroma of toffee, dark fruit, vanilla, and whiskey.The whiskey aroma disappeared in the taste. Toffee and raisin. Kind of musty.Very smooth. Didn't notice the alcohol at all, as contrasted with the regular Old Stock.Very drinkable, but expensive.

The beer pours a dark carmel color with a tan head. The aroma is full of bourbon, caramel and maple syrup. The aroma is definitely that of a bourbon-barrel aged beer and is quite enjoyable.

The flavor is more of the same. I get a lot of chocolate notes and caramel malt, as well as some bourbon and maple notes. There is also a little bit of vanilla from the barrel aging process. The alcohol is detectable but is not overpowering.

Pours out a chestnut brown, with a thin, flimsy head construed of mostly open bubbles, making a thin beige head. There's red in the edges color wise. I'm normally not a fan of the base beer, in fact, I let an ex chug a bottle of the 2000 a few years ago, that was hilarious. Anyways, the aroma is so nice and sweet in the bourbon barrel versions of these, complete 180 degree turnaround for my nose. Bourbon oak, sweetness, it makes an almost syrup/molasses like component come out of the beer. Plenty of carmelized vanilla oak notes. Pretty amazing stuff aroma wise.

For something of this massive constitution, the beer felt so much lighter. A nice sweet body, but it wasn't thick. Seemed like the barrel lightened the body and added so much flavor. Bourbon isn't hot at all, in fact, it comes off like a bourbon and brandy blend moreso than just bourbon. Sticky. Takes caramel, toffee and chocolate in a sweet form married with bourbon. That's how its done son. Even manages to have just a smidge of rum like raisin bread aspect to it.

Its a real expensive beer, so I only see myself, at $20 a pop (same price per oz as Black Tuesday), buying a bottle of this every 5-10 years probably.

A: Pours a bronzen ruby that glows in the light. Very little head on the pour with no retention and just the slightest wisp of lacing... Looks like lots of barrel aging.

S: Nice rounded bourbon with a good amount of added sweetness. Not really getting any vanilla sweetness like you'd expect. Nice caramelly malts with a bit of added depth of brown sugar or light molasses. Some danky wood but subtle.

T/M: Unbelievable depth... So much more than I expected. I also expected at least a bit of alcohol heat/punch/sting... Just rounded, smooth, warming alcohol. Great bourbon flavor that compliments perfectly. Much more barrel than expected and I think this adds a ton to the depth. Much much deeper malts with stronger molasses and even some light fudge notes. Sweetness isn't nearly as strong as expected but is balancing and comes in with lots of dark fruitiness. Body is about full and carbonation is smooth as hell.

D: Drinks far too easy for being as big as it is. I have to force myself to take small sips and make it last. I'm actually pissed I didn't just take this whole bottle from Kelley.

Appearance: Pours ruby red with a 1 inch soda pop head that fades fast. No legs to speak of. In fact in a matter of minutes there's no sign of any bubbles ever being present. Upon close inspection one can see tiny bubbles streaming from the bottom of the glass and burst at the surface.

Smell: Pop the cork and BAM! Big hit of chocolate and bourbon immediately hits the nose followed by caramel and wood. This beer's aroma screams "enjoy me"!

Taste: Starts out sweet and quickly reveals the complex character it truely is. vanilla, raisins, caramel, ripe fruit and a touch of brown sugar. A gentle taste of bourbon rounds it out.

Mouthfeel: Smooth with a medium to syrupy feel. No carbonation but it suits this one. A pleasent burn going down with a nice warming sensation. My taste buds just keep begging for more.

Drinkability: Delicious and well done. A beer I would shoot pool with in a bar on a Friday night. I would definitely not hesitate to finish a 750ml if it was offered. And probably stupid enough to try a second. My only complaint is the price and size...

Enjoyed another bottle of this the summer of 2014 with my son Bryan along with Firestone Walker 14, Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout, Bourban County Stout and this one blew his mind.

Been saving this for a special occasion, so I enjoyed it with great anticipation.

A: Pours a murky, muggy brown with dark muddy ruby tinges on the edge of the glass. The head is expectably very minimal- just fizzes away within' seconds. Not the best looking beer - looks more like dirty murky brandy.

S: HUGE vanilla and coconut, caramelized/burnt brown sugar, gooey boozy caramel and raisins. There are more dark fruit notes of prunes and cherry juice that sit below the assault of boozy sweetness. Given this beer has been aging in the bottle for 2 years it's surprising how hot it still is and the booziness does get in the way some.

T: Just as big and boozy as the aroma. Rich, decadent, gooey caramel and booze soaked fruits. Sweet vanilla and some coconut as well as hints of oak. Very sweet but it balances out the abv well, though still pretty hot. Very intense

P: At first way over carbonated, but with some vigorous swirls of the glass it yields a near perfect body. Not incredibly viscous - fuller side of medium. Very smooth, allows the intense flavors to be enhanced and coats your mouth.

O: This is a stunning creation. Reminds me of the Bruery anniversary beers, but certainly it's own creation. Certainly not falling off at all, I imagine this one could cellar for another 5 years at least.

Poured into a teku glass, the head is rather fizzy and loud, but forms light, airy and wispy inside. Steady surging carbonation is visible in the amber/light brown body. 4.25

From the moment I uncorked the beer, sweet brown sugar radiated outward. It's a heavy presence but caramel, port, and raisin all mingle alongside. The party doesn't end there: vanilla, oak, sticky bourbon, and molasses ooze through too. The smell overall is dessert-like, delectable and perfect. 5

Taste does not disappoint. True to the nose almost to a T. Caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, oak, and some port-like raisin quality. I get oatmeal cookie flavors from sip to sip. The brew suggests bourbon but it stands on its own and has plenty more to offer, all delicious. 4.75

Very light on the boozy feel, with only a faint burn on the finish and that enhances the experience for me. I can savor the flavors and let the creaminess roll around on the tongue. The body is deceptive, finishing light and sweet, but it's chewy and almost silky beforehand. 4.5

Delicious. Damn delicious. It's damn expensive too, but I'm not the least disappointed and quite happy with this investment.